What are the schools like in Benton, LA?

Benton is served primarily by Bossier Parish. The district operates 20 elementary schools, 7 middle schools, and 5 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.4:1.

What is the median household income in Benton?

The median household income in Benton, LA is $70,471 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.0%.

What is the weather like in Benton, LA?

Benton has an average high temperature of 55.2°F in January and 92.4°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 54.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 0.1 inches.

Benton, LA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Benton, LA affordable or expensive?

Benton's cost of living index is 87, where 100 represents the national average. This means Benton is 13% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $177,600 and the median rent is $780 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Benton, LA?

Benton has a violent crime rate of 598.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2163.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Benton, LA a Good Place to Live?

Benton is a small town of 2,386 in Louisiana, with a median household income of $70,471 and a 2.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is 13% below the national average.

Strengths: Benton stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Benton is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Benton city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 87.1

Benton's overall cost of living index is 87.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Benton costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.

Metric	Benton, LA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$177,600	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$780	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	69.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$70,471	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Benton's violent crime rate is 598.2 per 100,000 residents — 57% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

598.2 /100k

Property Crime

2163.1 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Benton is served primarily by Bossier Parish. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Benton, LA	National Avg
School District	Bossier Parish	—
Elementary Schools	20	—
Middle Schools	7	—
High Schools	5	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.4:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	16.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	91.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Benton sees average highs of 55.2°F in January and 92.4°F in July, with 54.0 inches of annual precipitation and 0.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Benton, LA
Average High — January	55.2°F
Average High — July	92.4°F
Annual Precipitation	54.0"
Annual Snowfall	0.1"

Demographics

Metric	Benton, LA	National Avg
Population	2,386	—
Median Age	38.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	23.0 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	49.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	29.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	7.3%	18.9%
Asian	0.3%	6.3%
Under 18	24.1%	22.2%
65 and over	14.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Belcher, LA 7 mi Blanchard, LA 10 mi Red Chute, LA 11 mi Gilliam, LA 11 mi Bossier City, LA 12 mi

ZIP Codes in Benton

Benton, LA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

71006

Benton vs Other Cities

Benton, LA vs Belcher, LA Benton, LA vs Blanchard, LA Benton, LA vs Red Chute, LA Benton, LA vs Gilliam, LA Benton, LA vs Bossier City, LA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Benton, LA affordable or expensive?

Benton's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average. That makes Benton roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $177,600 and median rent is $780/month.

What is the crime rate in Benton, LA?

Benton's violent crime rate is 598.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2163.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Benton?

Public schools in Benton are operated by Bossier Parish. The district has 20 elementary, 7 middle, and 5 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.4:1. 16.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Benton, LA a good place to live?

Benton, LA has a population of 2,386, a median household income of $70,471, and an unemployment rate of 2.0%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Benton?

Benton averages 55.2°F in January and 92.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 54.0 inches with about 0.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Benton?

Benton, LA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 71006.

What is the population of Benton?

The population of Benton, Louisiana is 2,386 with a median age of 38.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Benton?

Key numbers for living in Benton: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $177,600, median household income $70,471, crime index 136 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Benton side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.